What is Heroic Virtue?

January 22, 2022  By Andrew E. Harrod

“Our culture has a very confused sense of heroism, often applauding the biggest, strongest, loudest, or wealthiest,” writes Catholic commentator Bear Woznick in his new book, Deep Adventure: The Way of Heroic Virtue (Sophia Institute Press). In response to this distortion, he has drawn upon his own daring life of surfing Hawaii’s waves, skydiving, and running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, to examine insightfully the seven cardinal virtues.

Woznick counters the modern exaltation of braggadocio with courage’s mundane basis. Thus “true heroism -- the kind that saves lives, preserves dignity, and protects the most vulnerable -- is a determined, steadfast power, under control and directed toward the good with the clarity of purpose that comes with humility.” “Heroism is developed over time, one decision after another, moment by moment, formed by a deliberate, chosen, and habitual response to life,” he adds.

“Heroes are not made by a spider’s bite or on an alien planet,” Woznick clarifies. “A hero is just a common person, like you and me, choosing to do an uncommon thing.” Virtue forms such a hero, as Woznick notes its root in the Latin word “vir,” which “means ‘manly.’ True manliness is the pursuit of virtue.”

Justice stands at the beginning of Woznick’s analysis of the virtues:.........To Read More... 

My Take - Western civilization is predicated on Judaic/Christian principles and values.  The west has abandoned that.  If a culture abandons it foundation what does it have left to sustain itself?  That culture will cease to exist and be replaced with another culture, and leftism is now becoming the foundation for Western civilization, the most failed concept the world has ever known because leftism has no moral foundation other than greed, envy, hate and violence.  All the driving values that will get them the power for which they so cravenly lust.   Leftism is irrational, misanthropic and morally defective.  I do wish more people read history books on occasion, and Das Kapital isn't a history book.